Please join Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3355 MacArthur Road, Whitehall, to help plan and implement two upcoming community service projects for 2017. Come in the door in front of the church past the main church doors.

We will schedule our free community meals for 2017 and want to start a free breakfast/lunch program Monday through Friday 8:30-10 a.m. when school is out next summer. We are inviting all churches and others to participate in these two programs. We urge new churches and organizations to help us. Please note: Your church or organization can participate with an existing one listed below if you cannot host a meal at your location.

Our free community meals are held the third Tuesday of the month from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The churches that graciously helped this year include:

• Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hokendauqua, Jan. 19 and July 19

• Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Egypt, Feb. 16

• Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church, Hokendauqua, March 15 and June 21

• St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fullerton, April 19

• Egypt Community Church, May 17

• St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, Coplay, also provided manpower and made a nice monetary donation toward the July meal.

Upcoming meals include:

• Commitment to Family and Community, 165 Cherry St., Coplay, Aug. 16

• Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church, 3300 Seventh St., Hokendauqua, Sept. 20 and Dec. 20

• First Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua, 3005 S. Front St., Oct. 18

• St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 835 Third St., Fullerton, Nov. 15

We started the free community meals for the first time in January 2016. On that cold blustery day, we had 13 guests attend our first meal. To let people know about the meals, we have advertised in Whitehall-Coplay Press. Whitehall Lions Club graciously provided the funding for our signage that is placed throughout Whitehall and Coplay four to six days before the meals. Thanks to the ads, signage, repeated guests who now bring their friends, Whitehall and Coplay food banks, participating churches and our Hunger Initiative, the July meal fed 65 guests.

That is a 500-percent increase!

We also are looking for locations to start a much-needed free breakfast/lunch program next summer when school is out. We have to be mindful where kids can safely walk to the location. Whitehall has a ton of major roadways and has a large geographic location. Coplay is one square mile and is easier to have kids walk around. There are a couple of ways we can handle this project as far as distributing the food, but we need locations and volunteers.

We greatly appreciate everyone’s commitment to these two projects. Half of the school district’s students are on free or reduced lunches. There are many families struggling to make ends meet. And many seniors are in need of food and companionship.

We definitely have a hunger issue in Whitehall and Coplay. We appreciate any assistance and support you can give us. I hope to see you Aug. 23.